Happy Anniversary

Can you believe it's the last day of June??

And here's another quick card. I stamped Circle Scribbles in white ink on Kraft cardstock, rounding the bottom corners.

I added a strip of Pure Poppy cardstock and stamped the sentiment in black ink. A couple of overlapped hearts completed the card. Simple!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Circle Scribbles, Keep It Simple: Anniversary
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Pure Poppy
• Ink:  PTI Fresh Snow; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Cover Plate: Hearts
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

May Your Birthday Be....

I had Raspberry Fizz circles leftover from when I used Journal Card #8 and I didn't want to throw them away (it feels like I don't throw anything away anymore!) and used them on this card.

On white cardstock, I placed the circles back into a Journal Card die negative so I could glue them on evenly. I stamped the sentiment in black ink right next to them.

I rounded all four corners of the panel and placed it on a layer of True Black cardstock, corners rounded and onto a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base. Another simple card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, True Black, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  Journal Card #8
• Tools: Corner Rounder
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

I can't stop using these elephants because they are so cute!!!

First, I die-cut the three elephants and colored them with Copics. I added a little pink chalk to their cheeks and ears instead of using a marker. Next, I die-cut the three balloons in Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz and Lemon Tart, adding Will's name, the sentiment and a 3 (for his third birthday). The 3 is die-cut three times in Hawaiian Shores, stacked and glued together. I really like stacking and gluing for dimension!

I wanted a white edge to show around the card so I masked around the square with masking tape.  Using distress ink, I blended Peacock Feathers for the sky and Shabby Shutters for the grass. I stamped the blades of grass in black ink and went over them with Peeled Paint distress ink to show a variation in color. When I was done, I peeled off the masking tape and the edges looked so white and beautiful!  lol

The panel is on a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base. I placed the elephants on foam tape, adding their little hats and bow tie.  I attached crochet thread for the balloon strings and adhered the balloons with foam tape. I need to use this white border technique more often! 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  WPlus9 Unforgettable
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select, Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Tart
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink Peacock Feathers, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG23, BG49, RV17, Y21, W1, W3
• Dies:  PTI Block Alpha Numbers; WPlus9 Unforgettable; Memory Box Alphabet Soup
• Other:  Foam Tape; Crochet Thread; Chalk
• Card Size:  5.25" x 5.25"

Papertrey June Blog Hop Challenge

This month's challenge is to use the adorable shoes in this picture as inspiration. I would never put these colors together, but after making my card I really like this color combination!

I immediately thought of using one of my striped Cover Plates for the cards and selected Center Stage, cut it in Smokey Shadow cardstock and adhered to a Vintage Cream cardstock card base.

The flowers are die-cut in Vintage Cream and stamped with Tangelo ink with Smokey Shadow centers. Before I attached the flowers to the card, I used a bone folder to slightly curl the edges. The top flower is adhered with foam tape.

Celebrate is die-cut three times in Orange Zest cardstock, glued and stacked together. To finish the card, I tied seam binding around it and added glitter to the flowers.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Friendly Flowers, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream, Smokey Shadow, Orange Zest
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow; Memento Tangelo
• Dies:  PTI Friendly Flowers, Cover Plate: Center Stage; Wet Paint III
• Other:  Seam Binding; Glitter; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

You Are Amazingly Amazing

I kept seeing this stamp set on Pinterest and finally ordered it for myself.

I wanted to use a different color ink for the flowers, rather than pink or red and pulled out Blueberry Sky. On white cardstock, I stamped the flowers in blue ink and the stems in Spring Moss ink.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink. After looking at the panel, I thought there was too much white space so I stamped a few horizontal lines in Spring Moss at the top and bottom. I rounded the corners and placed it on a Blueberry Sky cardstock card base. A little white ribbon around the spine completed the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Stampin' Up Painted Petals
• Paper:  PTI Blueberry Sky, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Blueberry Sky, Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Ribbon
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Hip Hop Hooray (MIM #215 Bringing The Inside Out)

This card is from yesterday's Make It Monday #215: Bringing The Inside Out hosted by Danielle Flanders for PTI. The idea looked simple to do and I immediately thought of using the cute, little frog from the Frog Hop set. Perfect timing too, since I need a birthday card for a little boy.

Using Skyscapes: Scene it, I die-cut the center of a folded piece of white cardstock. For the inside of the card, I die-cut a light blue paper with the Scene It: Basic Backer die. I die-cut and stamped the frog, coloring him with Copics. After he was colored green, I used my colorless blender to make the polka dots on the frog to give him a little bit of a texture look. The frog is adhered on foam tape.

The lily pad is die-cut in Spring Moss cardstock, stamped with black ink and adhered to card front.  I stamped the cloud with the sentiment and added a few more smaller clouds. To fill in some of the space at the bottom, I scored three lines using the Scor-Pal.

Here's the outside of the card:

And the inside:

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Boy Basics: Frog Hop
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Spring Moss; DCWV
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  Y15, YG93, YG95, 0
• Dies:  PTI Boy Basics: Frog Hop, Scene It: Basic Backer, Scene It: Skyscapes
• Other:  Foam Tape; Scor-Pal
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Feel Better Soon

I was in the mood to do another quick card, but wanted to use watercolor.

I started with a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor paper - I prefer this brand because the paper is a bright white rather than ivory, like most other watercolor paper. I inked up the butterflies, spritzed them with water and stamped them on the paper. 

The sentiment is stamped in black ink. I got creative and drew the lines around the edge of the paper using a thin black marker.  To add a little more interest, I flicked some of the ink onto the image. The watercolor panel is adhered to a white cardstock card base. I like the way this turned out! 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Beautiful Butterflies, Keep It Simple: Get Well
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink Peacock Feathers, Ripe Persimmon, Shabby Shutters, Picked Raspberry; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Black Marker; Water
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day, the first day of summer and June is almost over - where is the year going?

This card uses the new Center Style: Masculine die from PTI. I really like the look of this die, but I will say it's a little difficult to glue it down. Every time I thought it was completely glued, it kept popping up! There must be an easier way to do it, other than running it through the Xyron. I'll have to read some of the DT blogs to see if they have any hints.

I placed a piece of striped pattern paper on a Kraft cardstock card base. I die-cut Center Style in Blueberry Sky cardstock and adhered it to the card. I cut a piece of white to place over top of it, adding the pointed shape at the top (what is that shape called??) stamped in Kraft ink.

The tie and dad are both die-cut in Enchanted Evening cardstock, 3 times, and yes, glued and stacked together. I stamped the sentiment in Kraft and layered it on a piece of Blueberry Sky placed on foam tape.

My final steps were adding a couple of wood buttons and jute around the card. It sort of looks like a shirt and tie to me.  Perfect for a father's day or birthday card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Center Style: Masculine, Keep It Simple: Father
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select, Blueberry Sky, Enchanted Evening; DCWV The Little Mister
• Ink:  PTI Kraft
• Dies:  PTI Center Style: Masculine, Tie, Block Alpha Lower Case
• Other:  PTI Wood Buttons; Jute; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Praying For You

And another simple card for today.

The card base is white cardstock, covered with Aqua Mist Damask pattern paper, rounding the right hand corners.

The sentiment is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink on a die-cut made with the Boutique Borders sympathy die. It's cut twice, once in Aqua Mist cardstock and once in white cardstock. Both die-cuts are layered and adhered to the card on foam tape. I added white, sheer ribbon around the spine to finish the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Boutique Borders: Sympathy
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist, Aqua Mist Damask
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow
• Dies:  PT Boutique Borders: Sympathy
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Ribbon
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sending Birthday Wishes

This is another quickie card - sometimes it just feels good to make a fast card!

I inked up the brush stroke stamp with Rosebud ink and stamped it 3 times without re-inking the stamp. I just read this is called "generation" stamping and it will create an ombre look.

Sending is die-cut three times in Raspberry Fizz cardstock, stacked and glued today. I placed it on the panel and stamped the sentiment under it in Smokey Shadow ink. The panel is adhered to a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base.

For embellishment, I added clear and assorted pink (Pink Peonies, Sweetheart Mix) sequins. Quick and easy!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Watercolor Wonder, Phrase Play #6
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow; Memento Rosebud
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint Cuts III
• Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins 
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

It's Your 60th Birthday

When I saw Betsy Veldman make a card similar to this, I knew I had to use the idea for a 60th birthday card. I am just loving the Retro Style stamp sets from PTI!

I die-cut the sign in white cardstock, stamping the triangle portion with Hawaiian Shores ink. I covered the top piece with Lemon Tart Stripes paper. "It's Your" is die-cut in white cardstock, also stamped in Hawaiian Shores ink (thank you MISTI!) and placed on foam tape. I die-cut a circle, stamped the outer part with Spring Moss ink and added "60th" in Rosebud ink. The year on the circles under the sign are white embossed on Raspberry Fizz cardstock.  

To create the backing, I die-cut a Scene It: Basic Backer in white cardstock and two of the Scene It: Skyscapes - the clouds in white cardstock and the stars in Spring Moss cardstock. I wasn't going to get these dies and now I'm so happy I did! 

I put it all together, placed it on a piece of white cardstock impressed with my Canvas/Linen Impression Plate and adhered it to a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base. I added the grass at the bottom, made with Spring Moss Stripes pattern paper and the coordinating stars. The last thing I did was stamp the sentiment.

Card Details:

• Stamps: Retro Style Birthday, Retro Style Graduation
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, White Stampers Select, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss, Lemon Tart Stripes, Spring Moss Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black, Rosebud; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Retro Style, Scene It: Basic Backer, Scene It: Skyscapes, Canvas/Linen Impression Plate, Note Niblets
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Grass Border Punch, Heat Tool
• Other:  Foam Tape; White Zing 
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

You're An All Star

It's Flag Day and I thought a red, white and blue baseball card was perfect for today's post. This is another stamp set I haven't used for a while - 7th Inning Stretch.

The card base is Kraft cardstock, with a layer of blue polka dot pattern paper on top. I cut a piece of angled white cardstock and stamped the bats and sentiment on it. The hat, glove and baseball are die-cut, stamped and placed on foam tape for a little dimension.

To make the card a little more festive, I cut strips of stars in Pure Poppy cardstock and adhered them to the top and bottom of the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI 7th Inning Stretch
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, White Stampers Select; DCWV
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, Kraft, Pure Poppy; Memento Rich Cocoa
• Dies:  PTI 7th Inning Stretch, Super Stars Border
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Celebrating With You

This technique to outline die-cuts is from Taylored Expressions - it was either on her blog or in a newsletter I received from her.

The flowers are die-cut in Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush cardstock and the leaves die-cut in Spring Moss cardstock. Once everything was cut, I was ready to start drawing! Using a fine, thin black marker and a white gel pen, I placed black dots around the outside of the flowers and white dots in the centers.

I outlined the leaves and drew veins with the black marker, outlining them with the white gel pen. The leaves and flowers are on an Aqua Mist stitched rectangle, adhered to a white cardstock card base. A few of the flowers are on foam tape for dimension.

The sentiment is stamped in black ink on a stitched banner and placed on a slight angle. Don't you think drawing on the flowers and leaves adds a different, fun look?

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Ruby Reprise
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Friendly Flowers, Turning A New Leaf; Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Stitched Sentiment Flag
• Tools:  Stampin' Up Owl Punch
• Other:  Foam Tape; LePen Black Marker; Martha Stewart White Opaque Marker
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Wish Big

Ok, I'll admit - this color is so out of my comfort zone! But sometimes we have to go outside of our comfort zone, right?

The music pattern paper is placed on a coordinating Simply Chartreuse cardstock card base. I die-cut the scalloped circle in Dark Chocolate cardstock (to match the brown music notes) and the regular circle in the Spring Moss cardstock. The sentiment is stamped in Dark Chocolate ink.

Both circles are adhered to the card on foam tape. I added a couple of sequins to complete the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Stylish Sentiments: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Simply Chartreuse, Spring Moss, Dark Chocolate, Sweet Symphony
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate
• Dies:  Standard and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities
• Other:  Foam Tape; Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday

Ever want to just make a quick, no frills card? That's what this is - quick and easy!

On white cardstock I stamped the three butterflies in Aqua Mist ink. Birthday is part of PTI's new Swoosh stamps and is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. I added a few hearts on the lines.

To finish this simple card, I rounded just the one right hand bottom corner.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Swoosh, Beautiful Butterflies
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Aqua Mist, Smokey Shadow
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

On Your Wedding Day (MIM #213 Cool Condensation Effects)

I wasn't planning to do this week's MIM #213: Cool Condensation Effects. I've been in the mood to play with watercolor and pulled out one of my Year of Flowers stamp sets. After it was done, I knew this technique would go well with the card.

I stamped the flowers and leaves in Versamark ink on watercolor paper, sprinkled it with Clear Zing embossing powder and heat embossed it. I wet the paper and dipped my wet brush into red and green distress inks and applied the ink to the images. The main rose has several layers of ink as I kept drying it in between layers. Is it a layer of ink.....not sure what the right term is.

After the flowers and leaves were dry, I fussy cut them and adhered them to a Vintage Cream cardstock card base that's scored every 3/8". I thought the background was too plain and this added a little texture. The main flower is on foam tape.

The sentiment is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink on the new Center Style: Masculine die and placed on foam tape. I added the ribbon on the spine and rounded the corners. Then I pulled out my Glossy Accents and added them to the flowers and the leaves (they are kind of hard to see in the picture, better to see on the leaves). I think it really helped the card look a lot better (thanks Betsy!).

I'm not sure I really like this as a wedding card but it's too late now!  lol

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Year Of Flowers: Roses
• Paper:  PTI Vintage Cream; 140# Watercolor 
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow; Tim Holtz Festive Berries, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Center Style: Masculine
• Tools:  Corner Rounder; Heat Embossing Tool; Scor-Pal
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Foam Tape; Ribbon; Glossy Accents
• Card Size:  5.25" x 5.25"

Oh Yeah!

When I saw the PTI Make It Market Mini Kit: Clipsters (which for some reason I keep calling Clusters! lol) I wanted it because the Design Team made such wonderful cards with it! I really liked the banner dies that were included in the set.

I decided to just use two colors on the card, and chose Lemon Tart and Spring Moss. On white cardstock, I added a strip of Spring Moss Stripes pattern paper at the bottom of the card. I stamped the arrows on the left of the card, alternating the colors.

I die-cut the two banners and stamped them with a star and sentiment, adding a clear sequin on the star. The banners are on thin foam tape.

Oh Yeah! is die-cut, stamped with Spring Moss ink (thank goodness for the MISTI!) and placed on thin foam tape. I added the "it's your birthday" in black ink. To finish the card, I tied Buttercream twine around the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Make It Market Mini Kit: Clipsters
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, Spring Moss Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Lemon Tart, Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Make It Market Mini Kit: Clipsters
• Other:  Foam Tape; Twine; Sequins
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Congrats Grad

I ordered this graduation stamp from Taylored Expressions a few years ago and never used it...it was time to ink it up!

On white cardstock, I stamped the "congrats grad" (all one stamp) and colored the "grad" portion with Copics, outlining it with a light grey shadow. I die-cut the row of stars in Hawaiian Shores cardstock and placed it on an angle across the panel.

2015 is cut in four different cardstock colors and the little stars (made from the star border die) are in the same colors. I placed the panel on a layer of black cardstock, onto a Pure Poppy cardstock card base.  It certainly is a bright and festive looking card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Grad
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, True Black, White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG15, G82, R27, Y35, W1
• Dies:  PTI Block Alphabet Numbers, Super Star Border
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday Shaker Card

Shaker cards are still very popular, thank goodness, because I'm a little behind with this trend. I only made a couple of them - I don't know why because they're not very hard to do and make an impressive looking card.

I used a layer of Lemon Tart Stripes pattern paper over a white cardstock card base, rounding the bottom corners. I die-cut Phrase Play #5 in white cardstock and stamped birthday in black ink. I adhered a piece of acetate to the back of the opening with scor-tape and also placed foam tape around the opening, making sure there were no gaps.....I don't want anything to fall out! I left an opening at the top for the sequins.

I picked out sequins in various colors (clear, lemon drop, lemon meringue, pink blush, fresh mint) and shapes (gold stars) and put them in the opening at the top, shaking them to the bottom and then sealing the top.  I added white crochet twine around the card to finish it. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #5
• Paper:  PTI Lemon Tart Stripes, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Phrase Play #5
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Foam Tape; Pretty Pink Posh Sequins; Crochet Twine
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"